SHARES in Elan were up yesterday on news that the company and its research partner Biogen Idec have restarted a safety trial of their multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri.

The shares finished up 23c, or 1.94pc, in Dublin yesterday at €12.05.

Tysabri was withdrawn from the market last year after reports of a rare brain infection PML were linked to the drug.

Elan and Biogen Idec said yesterday that they had completed a safety review of more than 3,000 Tysabri patients that yielded no new confirmed cases of PML.

Earlier this month the company suffered a new setback on the return of Tysabri after the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) delayed it by as much as 90 days as it is reviewing the companies' plan to prevent a rare side effect that killed two patients.

Previously a decision had been expected by March 29.

The drug was removed from the market after two patients died from a rare brain infection called PML.

Some analysts expect Tysabri to reach annual sales of more than $3bn if proved to be safe.
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=35&si=1590510&issue_id=13866